Erik Brady: Ralph Mellanby spent his life bringing hockey into living rooms, including the first Sabres season By Erik Brady Special to The News Feb 1, 2022 Feb 1, 2022 Updated Mar 12, 2026 0 Sabres owner Seymour H. Knox III drops the ceremonial first puck for the first NHL game at Buffalo's Memorial Auditorium in 1970. Buffalo News file photo Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save By Erik Brady Special to The News Ralph Mellanby dearly loved a good story, and one of his best was about the October day in 1970 when the Buffalo Sabres played their first home game.kAmw:D DE@CJ DE2CD 2 C2E H9@ 92F?E65 E96 pF5[ 3FE E9:D :D 2 9@4<6J DE@CJ] |6==2?3J H2D 2 9@4<6J 8FJ[ E9C@F89 2?5 E9C@F89]k^AmkAmw6 5:65 @? $2EFC52J[ 2E gf[ E@ 2 9@DE @7 9@D2??2D 24C@DD r2?252] tG6? :7 J@F 5@?’E <?@H 9:D ?2>6[ J@F <?@H 9:D DEJ=6i |6==2?3J AC24E:42==J :?G6?E65 E96 H2J H6 H2E49 9@4<6J 2D 6I64FE:G6 AC@5F46C @7 Qw@4<6J }:89E :? r2?252Q 7C@> `hee E@ `hgd] w6 56G6=@A65 :??@G2E:G6 42>6C2 2?8=6D 2?5 82G6 w@H:6 |66<6C 9:D E6=6DEC2E@C – 2?5 s@? r96CCJ 9:D D@2A3@I]k^Am kAm“#2=A9 :D E@ E6=6G:D:@? H92E E96 ~CCD[ w@H6D 2?5 vC6EK<JD 2C6 E@ 9@4<6J[” HC@E6 |:<6 qC@A9J :? E96 :?EC@5F4E:@? 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Shuttles to run from three parking areas McDowell EMS, 38 other agencies get slice of $10 million in state funding 1,000 jobs coming to North Carolina in new Corning, Amazon data center deal 28th annual Operation Backpack set to begin for McDowell’s students Insider: Panthers reportedly have visions of Jonathon Brooks becoming lead RB over Hubbard McDowell County Democrats open new headquarters Two McDowell students among 215 to receive Golden LEAF scholarships kAm|6==2?3J DE2CE65 @FE :? %' 2D 2 A2CE\E:>6 AC@A 3@J 2E 2 =@42= DE2E:@? :? (:?5D@C[ ~?E][ 2?5 H6?E @? E@ AC@5F46 ~=J>A:4D E6=642DED 2?5 H:? t>>JD 2?5 :?EC@5F46 E96 2?:>2E65 !6E6C !F4< E@ p>6C:42? 2F5:6?46D @? }qr 9@4<6J 82>6D :? E96 `hf_D]k^AmkAmw6 H2D 3@C? :? w2>:=E@?[ ~?E][ 2?5 DA6?E DF>>6CD 2D 2 3@J :? u@CE tC:6[ 2E 2 4@EE286 @? E96 =2<6[ H96? 9:D 72E96C H2D 2? 65:E@C 2E E96 w2>:=E@? $A64E2E@C] |6==2?3J E@=5 >6 rC6D46?E q6249 H2D D@ H:56 E96? E92E J@F 4@F=5 A=2J D@7E32== @? 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Sabres' Peyton Krebs returns to Vegas a 'completely different player' Krebs’ role is far different with the Buffalo Sabres than it was with the Las Vegas Golden Knights. He’s been a fixture in the Sabres’ top six…